Update: Gottfriedsen Fire; Quesnel on Alert

Aug 10, 2018 | 3:03 PM

Update 3 pm:

The Okanagan’s newest wildfire on Gottfriedsen Mountain, west of West Kelowna, is said to be showing extreme fire behaviour today.

The Wildfire Service says because of all the smoke, they are unable to get an accurate estimate on its size, last put at 550 hectares.

It’s not near any structures at this point, 24 km’s west of West Kelowna and 8 kilometres from Highway 97.

There is an evacuation alert in the Pennask Lake and Hatheume Lake area in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.

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In other wildfire news, residents living on the west side of the Fraser River in the City of Quesnel (West Quesnel) are now under an Evacuation Alert due to the Narcosli Creek Fire.

The alert issued by Cariboo Regional District and the City of Quesnel covers the Narcosli Creek area, north to West Quesnel.

The fire is burning 31 km’s southwest of Quesnel.

The Cariboo Regional District has also issued an evacuation alert for 396 properties northeast of 100 Mile House due to the Lang Lake wildfire.

Click here for more on the alerts.

UPDATE : 11:35 AM AUG10/18 TOM MARK

The Okanagan`s newest wildfire continues to burn out of control about 24 kilometres west of West Kelowna.

The Gottfriedsen Mountain fire broke out yesterday afternoon and quickly grew to 400 hectares and is about 500 hectares now.

Wildfire information officer Brenna Ward says it`s expected to grow more today.

“Exactly, yeah we are expecting to see an uptick in the fire activity that is already happening, as well as potential new starts today.”

The fire is burning through cut blocks and is bit unpredictable because of winds in the area.

“As of last night it was burning in several different directions, so it would kind of go one way and then switch and go another way, but it was burning more northerly yesterday and so we will be keeping an eye obviously on those winds.”

Crews overnight worked to start building a fire guard.

“We had night ops last night. We did have seven personnel on scene last night as well as a dozer that were able to work the fire and today we will be sending back another seven. We will have air support if it’s needed later on”

The fire is about 8 kilometres north of the Okanagan Connector.

It’s not know if any structures are threatened at this point.

The Thompson Nicola Regional District has issued an evacuation alert for all properties including campgrounds in a wide area bounded by Pennask, Mellin, Barton and Eileen Lakes.

You can get more information on that by clicking here.

Update: 6:10 am Aug 10/18 Tom Mark

The Gottfriedsen Mountain fire about 24 kilometres west of West Kelowna and about 8 kilometres north of the Okanagan Connector was estimated at 400 hectares last night and was expected to grow due to strong winds.

Ground crews worked with air support and heavy equipment into the evening to try to contain it.

An update is expected about 8 this morning.

Meanwhile, the Thompson Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation alert for Electoral Area “M” (Beautiful Nicola Valley – North) due to the fire.

Due to the remoteness of the area, the alert is being issued using locations as reference points.

The Alert area incorporates all properties, camping areas, etc north of Highway 97C including the following lakes:
• Pennask Lake • Mellin Lake • Barton Lake • Eileen Lake.

You can see a map of the area on the regional district’s website by clicking on www.tnrd.ca

The BC Wildfire Service is assessing a new and aggressive wildfire burning on Gottfriedsen Mountain about 24 km west of West Kelowna and about 8 km north of Highway 97.

No structures threatened at this time.

Photo courtesy of BC Wildfire Service

by Corey Fischer